The 2024 Wisconsin State Assembly election was held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election. Prior to the election 64 Assembly seats were held by Republicans, 34 seats were held by Democrats, with one seat, formerly held by a Democrat, vacant.
The primary election was held on August 13, 2024. The filing deadline to appear on the ballot was June 3, 2024.[1]
Elected members will take office on January 6, 2025
This election will be significantly affected by the legislative maps drawn as a result of the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision in Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, which declared the previous legislative district map to be unconstitutional on December 22, 2023. The court was in the process of selecting a remedial plan, when the legislature chose to embrace the map proposed by governor Tony Evers. Evers signed the plan into law on February 19, 2024.[2]
Under the new maps, these were expected to be the first competitive elections for the Assembly since 2010, when Republicans won control of the chamber. Democrats were expected to gain a number of seats, and while the maps were still considered slightly Republican-leaning, either major party could win a majority of seats if they won a majority of the popular vote in the state. Over 40 incumbent representatives had been drawn into districts with one or more other incumbent, with most of them being Republicans.[3][4]
Democrats last won a majority of seats in the state assembly in the 2008 elections.
In the 2010 elections, Republicans won significant majorities in both houses of the Legislature and the governorship. Republicans used their majorities to pass a radical redistricting plan after the 2010 census which substantially shifted the partisan bias of the state legislative maps. The map itself was the product of a Republican project known as REDMAP, created to maximize the partisan bias of redistricting by utilizing new statistical and mapping software.[5] In the end, the maps were used for the 2012 elections, which saw Democrats win 52% of the statewide vote in the Assembly. Despite this, Democrats only won 39% of the seats in the chamber going into the 2013-2015 session. This disproportionality would only grow with future elections, with Republicans consistently winning a large majority of seats while the statewide vote would remain relatively close.[6]
During the 105th Wisconsin Legislature (2021–2023), Wisconsin was again under divided government. The Wisconsin Supreme Court re-asserted a role in arbitrating redistricting disputes for the first time in 60 years. The conservative 4–3 majority on the Court chose to take original jurisdiction over the redistricting case at the urging of state Republican leadership, breaking from prior precedent of deference to federal courts.[citation needed]
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in November 2021, in a 4–3 decision on ideological lines, that the standard they would use to draw new maps would be to seek the "least changes" to the existing maps necessary to comply with the new census data.[7][8] The standard conferred significant partisan advantage to the Republican Party in this map-making process due to the 2011 map's existing partisan tilt. After initially adopting Democratic governorTony Evers' "least change" proposal, the United States Supreme Court tossed the decision, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted the Republican "least change" proposal.[9]
In 2022, Republicans won 64% of the seats, three away from a supermajority. The following April, the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election flipped the majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to a liberal majority for the first time in over 15 years. The day after Janet Protasiewicz was inaugurated, a lawsuit was filed against the 2022 "least change" map.[10]
The Wisconsin Supreme Court released their decision in the case, Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, on December 22, 2023, declaring the legislative maps unconstitutional in a 4–3 opinion along ideological lines. The court declared that state legislative districts must be composed of "physically adjoining territory" and pointed out that 50 of 99 existing Assembly districts failed that constitutional criteria.[11] The majority decision also declared that the "least changes" methodology used by the court in 2022 for the Johnson v. Wisconsin Elections Commission case was never properly defined and was without legal or constitutional foundation.[12]
The court was in the process of selecting a remedial plan when the legislature chose to pass the map proposed by governor Tony Evers. Evers signed the plan into law on February 19, 2024.[2] Republicans showed the most favorability towards Evers' proposal due to pairing the least incumbents and providing Republicans with the best opportunity to retain a majority in the fall elections.[13]
To combat the threat of PFAS contamination, the Wisconsin legislature included $125 million in the state budget. Despite this, Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) have refused to release the funds to be used by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). On April 9, Evers vetoed a piece of legislation which would have created grants to fight pollution due to PFAS chemicals, in explaining his veto, Evers cited the restrictions the legislation would have placed on the DNR to prosecute polluters. In vetoing the legislation, Evers also continued calling for the release of the $125 million which was set aside in the budget for combatting PFAS contamination.[14] In response to Evers' veto, JFC members said they would hold the funds hostage.
On April 16, Evers called the JFC to session, but its Republican members refused to attend, denying the committee a quorum to do business.[15] In response to this inaction, Wisconsin Democrats launched a six-figures campaign called "No More Games" which served the purpose to pressure and target members of the Committee from competitive districts. Among their targets included Assembly Republicans Mark Born, Jessie Rodriguez, and Shannon Zimmerman, from the 37th, 21st, and 30th districts respectively.[16]
Boundaries of the old 63rd Assembly district, defined by Billie Johnson v. Wisconsin Elections Commission (2022).
In January 2024, Matthew Snorek, a resident of Burlington, filed paperwork to recall Robin Vos. In the paperwork, Snorek gave a list of grievances against Vos, which included insufficient support for former president Donald Trump, refusing to impeach Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Megan Wolfe, and his refusal to decertify the 2020 presidential election. Many of the people who were involved in the recall campaign were the same people who were involved in the primary challenge against Vos in 2022.[28] On March 10, the recall campaign claimed to have collected over 10,000 signatures, which would be more than enough to trigger a recall election.[29]
The Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to answer the question of what map would be utilized for the recall election, which was in conflict due to Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission.Clarke prohibited the use of the old maps in any future state legislative elections, while the law establishing the new legislative maps would not take effect until the November general election. After a review by the Wisconsin Elections Commission staff, it was found the recall organizers did not collect enough signatures within either set of boundaries to trigger a recall.[30][31]
With the failure of the first petition to get the required amount of signatures, Snorek filed a new petition to recall Vos. He argued that Vos was a supporter of the Chinese Communist Party, had refused to help lower prescription drug costs, and derided members of the petition as "whack-jobs, morons and idiots".[32] Wisconsin Elections Commission staff found that the recall petitioners had turned in 6,866 valid signatures, or 16 more signatures than were necessary to trigger a recall, despite the question of what district was to be used remaining unresolved.[33] Despite the staff findings, the Commission itself rejected an additional 188 signatures, leaving the recall without enough signatures to trigger a recall.[34]
In 2018, following Tony Evers' victory over incumbent governor Scott Walker, the legislature met in a joint lame-duck session and passed legislation to limit the powers of the incoming Governor and Attorney General.[35][36] The move was widely described as a power grab but was upheld by the courts.[37]
Due to the legislative gerrymander, Democrats were unable to gain a majority in the State Assembly.[38][39] Beginning in 2020, Wisconsin Democrats launched the "Save the Veto initiative" as a means to preserve Governor Evers' veto power by preventing a Republican legislative supermajority.[40] Despite this, Republicans came within three seats of a veto-proof supermajority in the Assembly.[41] Due to the newly competitive legislative maps, Democratic campaign rhetoric has shifted from protecting the governor's veto to winning a majority in the assembly.[42][43]
Democrats ran over 120 candidates in 97 districts, the highest number in over a decade.[44] This election also has the fewest uncontested districts since 1982.[45]
Due to redistricting, the primary featured a large number of races with multiple incumbents. 46 Assembly primaries were contested across the state, the most since 2012. Four incumbent legislators lost their primary elections, all in races against other incumbents, such as in the 24th district, where the candidate considered an election denier lost to a more moderate candidate despite having received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.[46][47] All incumbents with challengers from outside the legislature won their races.[48]
Incumbent Republican Joel Kitchens is running for re-election. He defeated Milt Swagel in the primary by 54 points and faced Democrat Renee Paplham in the general election.
Incumbent Republican David Steffen is running for re-election. Due to redistricting Elijah Behnke was placed into this district but decided to run in the 6th district. Instead, Steffen faced Darwin Behnke, vice chair of the Oconto County Republican Party and father of Elijah. Behnke justified his bid in alleging that Steffen was insufficiently conservative and a "RINO" and argued that he did not want to see Steffen run unopposed in the primary.[148] Steffen defeated Behnke by 33 points and defeated Democrat Jane Benson in the general election.
In the Democratic primary two candidates announced campaigns to take on Steffen, Jane Benson, the nominee for the 89th district in 2022 and fellow Suamico resident Alexia Unertl. In the primary both candidates held similar views to each other, differing primarily in their backgrounds and political history, with Benson running for state assembly in the past and organizing for the League of Women Voters and Unertl serving as the vice chair for the Brown County Conservation Congress.[149] In the primary, Benson defeated Unertl by 57 points and was defeated by David Steffen in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Peter Schmidt was running for re-election. Previously Schmidt had been subject to controversy due to being censured by the Shawano County GOP and being criminally convicted for abuse of a migrant worker on his farm, and was seen as vulnerable to a primary challenge.[150]Elijah Behnke had been previously drawn into the 4th Assembly district due to redistricting but decided to run in the 6th against Schmidt.[151] In the primary Behnke defeated Schmidt by a 17 point margin and will face Democrat Shirley Hinze in the general election.
Incumbent Democrat Daniel Riemer declined to seek re-election, leaving the seat open. Instead of seeking re-election in this district, fellow incumbent Republican Bob Donovan is moving to the 61st district after being moved into this district due to redistricting. Democrat Karen Kirsch will face Republican Lee Whiting in the general election.
Incumbent Democrat Sylvia Ortiz-Velez is running for re-election unopposed. In the primary she defeated 2020 candidate for this district Enrique Murguia by a wide margin.
This seat is open after incumbent Democrat Marisabel Cabrera resigned on August 1 after being elected to the Wisconsin Circuit Court in the Spring general election. In the primary, Priscilla Prado, a business owner, defeated Deisy España, a community organizer. Prado will face Republican Ryan Antczak, a corrections officer, in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Tom Michalski is running for re-election, he faced Patti Granger in the primary and defeated her by a wide margin. In the general election Michalski will face incumbent Democrat Robyn Vining after she was moved from the neighboring 14th district into the 13th due to redistricting.
Incumbent Democrat Robyn Vining was moved into the neighboring 13th district due to redistricting, leaving the district open. In the primary Angelito Tenorio, a candidate for Wisconsin Treasurer in 2022 Wisconsin State Treasurer election and former West Allis Alderman defeated business owner Brady Coulthard and social worker Nathan Kieso. Tenorio faced Republican Jim Engstrand and Independent Steven Shevey and defeated both in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Dave Maxey was moved into the 83rd district due to redistricting. Republican Adam Neylon is seeking re-election after being moved into this district due to redistricting. In the general election he will face Democrat Sarah Harrison.
Incumbent Democrat Evan Goyke declined to seek re-election after being elected Milwaukee city attorney in the 2024 spring election, leaving the seat open. In the primary, Margaret Arney, who was endorsed by Goyke, defeated Angela Kennedy by 30 points. Arney will face Republican Kevin Andre Anderson in the general election.
Incumbent Democrat Ryan Clancy is running for re-election unopposed. In the primary he faced activist Jarrod Anderson. Clancy, one of the two members of the Wisconsin Democrat's Socialist Caucus, faced opposition due to his criticism of the Biden Administration and support for Uncommitted in the presidential primary, positions on the Israel–Hamas war, and his maverick position within the Democratic caucus more generally.[152][153] This stood in contrast with Anderson, who campaigned as a "pragmatic progressive," that would be more collaborative with the broader Democratic caucus than Clancy. During the campaign, Anderson garnered endorsements from numerous Democrats in the Assembly and Milwaukee political landscape opposed to Clancy's campaign.[154] In the election, Clancy defeated Anderson by 9 points.
Incumbent Republican Janel Brandtjen was moved into the 24th district due to redistricting, where she attempted to gain the Republican nomination. Republican Paul Melotik is running for re-election after being moved into this district due to redistricting. In the general election he will face Democrat Dana Glasstein.
Incumbent Republican Paul Melotik was moved into the 22nd district due to redistricting. Republican Janel Brandtjen was running for re-election after being moved into this district due to redistricting. She faced Dan Knodl, state senator and former representative for this district in the primary. Brandtjen had previously represented the 22nd district prior to redistricting and had run against Knodl in the 2023 special election for the 8th Senate district. Brandtjen has been subject to controversy due to her combative relationship with the Republican Caucus and repeated attempts to decertify Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 United States presidential election. Due to her controversies she was barred from attending Assembly Republican closed caucus meetings in November 2022.[155] Additionally, she was charged with a felony by ther Wisconsin Ethics Commission for an alleged plot to skirt campaign finance laws, though charges have not yet been brought.[156] In May 2024 Brandtjen was endorsed by Donald Trump.[157] Knodl, having originally represented this district from 2009 to 2023, claimed a desire to run again to give the assembly "a conservative who is respected by his colleagues," as Brandtjen had been barred from closed caucus meetings due to a lack of trust. Knodl also ran again as to avoid a primary in the Senate with colleague Duey Stroebel.[158][159] In the election, Knodl defeated Brandtjen by a 30 point margin, and will face William Walter, head of Our Wisconsin Revolution, in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Terry Katsma declined to seek re-election. Republican Amy Binsfeld sought re-election in this district after being moved from the 27th district into the 25th due to redistricting. She was defeated by Democrat Joe Sheehan, a former superintendent of Sheboygan schools and executive director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation, in the general election.
Prior to 2011, the 26th district had encompassed the city of Sheboygan and some surrounding villages and had leaned towards the Democratic Party. Following the 2011 gerrymander, which had divided Sheboygan between an altered 26th and 27th districts, Democratic voting power was diluted as a means to produce two Republican leaning districts. Sheboygan and its split between two districts had been the example of gerrymandering in Wisconsin used in the case Gil v. Whitford.[160] Under the new maps, the district is one of the most politically competitive districts in the state, being rated as a tossup with a slight Democratic lean.[161][51]
Incumbent Republican Gae Magnafici declined to seek re-election. In the primary Robin Kreibich, a former representative for the Wisconsin's 93rd Assembly district, faced off against Brady Penfield, a student at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and defeated him by a margin of 45 votes. During the campaign, Penfield had run to the right of Kreibich and had the support of the St. Croix county Republican Party.[162] Kreibich will face Democrat Danielle Johnson, a veterinarian, in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Clint Moses was moved into the 92nd district due to redistricting. Republican Treig Pronschinske is running for re-election after being moved into this district due to redistricting. In the general election he will face Democrat Terrance Schoonover.
Incumbent Republican Shannon Zimmerman is running for re-election. He will face Democrat and former hospital administrator Alison Page in the general election. This race is expected to be one of the closest in the cycle, and Zimmerman is being targeted by Democrats as part of the "No More Games" campaign for his inaction on the Joint Finance Committee and his positions on abortion.[16][163]
Incumbent Republican Ellen Schutt declined to seek re-election. There was no primary election for either party in this district. Republican majority leader Tyler August moved into this district to avoid a primary election with a fellow incumbent. He will face Democrat John Henderson in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Tyler August is seeking re-election in the 31st district after fellow Republican Amanda Nedweski was moved into this district as a result of redistricting. Nedweski will face Democrat Michael Dhindsa in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Scott Johnson was moved into the 97th district as a result of redistricting. Incumbent Robin Vos is seeking re-election after being moved into this district due to redistricting. In the primary Vos was unopposed after his opponent dropped out of the race, despite this, Cegielski still managed to get 30% of the vote. Vos will face Democrat Alan Kupsik and Independent Kelly Clark in the general election.
Incumbent Republican William Penterman was moved into the neighboring 42nd district as a result of redistricting, leaving the district open. Fellow Republican Mark Born was moved into this district as a result of redistricting and will face LaToya Bates in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Barbara Dittrich was moved into the neighboring 99th district due to redistricting, leaving this district open. Fellow Republican William Penterman moved into this district after being moved into the 42nd district due to redistricting. Penterman will face Democrat Izzy Nevarez in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Mark Born was moved into the neighboring 37th district due to redistricting, leaving this district open. Fellow Republican Alex Dallman was moved into this district due to redistricting. He will face Democrat Chris Gordon in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Kevin David Petersen was moved into the neighboring 57th district due to redistricting, leaving the district open. Only one Republican, Jerry Helmer, filed to succeed Petersen. Three Democrats filed to challenge Helmer, Karen DeSanto, Kyle Kunicki, and Brad Cook.
Incumbent Republican Alex Dallman was moved into the 39th district due to redistricting, leaving this district open. Fellow Republican Tony Kurtz was moved into this district due to redistricting. He will face Democrat Julia Henley.
Incumbent Democrat Jenna Jacobson was moved into the neighboring 50th district due to redistricting, leaving the district open. Democrat Brienne Brown filed to succeed Jacobson, while Republican Scott Johnson moved from the 93rd district, which he had been placed into as a result of redistricting, into the 43rd. In the Republican primary Johnson faced Dylan Kurtz and defeated him by a wide margin. Brown will face Johnson in the general election.
Incumbent Democrat Sue Conley declined to seek re-election, leaving the district open. In the Democratic primary, two former congressional candidates, Ann Roe, and Cathy Myers, faced off against one another. Roe will advance to the general election, where she faces Republican Bruce Danielson.
Incumbent Democrat Samba Baldeh declined to seek re-election, instead making an unsuccessful run for Wisconsin Senate in Wisconsin's 16th Senate district. Five Democrats joined the race to succeed him, with those five being Bill Connors, nonprofit leader; Andrew Hysell, attorney; Goodwill Obieze, Human Resources manager; Avery Renk, attorney; and Rick Rose, Dane County Supervisor. Five days before the primary, Connors, Obieze, Renk, and Rose released a joint statement urging voters to reject Hysell, in the statement they alleged Hysell was not a progressive and had donated to Republicans dating back to 2014.[164] In a response to the statement, he reaffirmed his support for progressive policies and condemned mudslinging in the campaign.[165] In the primary, Hysell placed first, defeating his four other opponents. He will advance to the general election where he faces Republican Lisa Rubrich, an orthodontist.
Incumbent Republican Tony Kurtz was moved out of this district as a result of redistricting. Jenna Jacobson is running for re-election after being moved into this district as a result of redistricting.
Incumbent Republican Todd Novak is running for re-election, he will face Democrat Elizabeth Grabe in the general election.
Historically, this district had been a Republican leaning competitive district throughout much of the 2010s, electing Republicans Howard Marklein, and then Todd Novak, by slim margins.[166][167] In 2021 the district was redrawn to be more Republican, and it gave Novak a 12 point victory in the election. Due to the 2023 redistricting, the district shifted to be more Democratic leaning, where it now is Democratic leaning by an 8 point margin.[168][169] During the campaign, Novak has declined to interact with his opponent, and has avoided participating in candidate debates and forums.[170]
Incumbent Republican Jerry L. O'Connor was moved into the 60th district due to redistricting, where his district was effectively renumbered. Incumbent Democrat Lee Snodgrass was moved into the 52nd district due to redistricting, as her district had been effectively renumbered. She will face Republican Chad Cooke in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Michael Schraa was moved into the 55th district due to redistricting, where he attempted to gain the Republican nomination, leaving this district open. There was no primary election for either party in this district. Republican Dean Kaufert, a former mayor of Neenah, will face Democrat and union leader Duane Shukoski in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Nate Gustafson is seeking re-election. He faced fellow Republican Michael Schraa, who had been moved into this district due to redistricting, and defeated him by ten points. Gustafson will face Democrat Kyle Kehoe in the general election.
Incumbent Democrat Lee Snodgrass was moved into the 52nd district due to redistricting, as her district had been effectively renumbered. Incumbent Republican Kevin David Petersen was moved into this district due to redistricting, as his district had been effectively renumbered. Petersen will face Democrat Ruth Caves and Independent Dylan Testin in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Ty Bodden declined to seek re-election, leaving this seat open. Fellow Republican Robert Brooks is seeking re-election in this district after being moved into it due to redistricting. He will face Democrat Jack Holzman in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Robert Brooks was moved into the 59th district due to redistricting. Fellow Republican Jerry L. O'Connor was moved into the 60th district due to redistricting, where his district was effectively renumbered. In the general election O'Connor will face Democrat Joe Lavrenz.
Incumbent Republican Amanda Nedweski was moved into the 32nd district due to redistricting, leaving the district open. In the Republican primary Bob Donovan, who was moved into the 7th district due to redistricting and decided to move to the 61st, defeated Martin Gomez by a wide margin. Donovan will face Democrat LuAnn Bird in the general election, a rematch from 2022. In the 2022 race, Bird had been part of Democratic efforts to protect Governor Evers' veto, and this time is part of the Democratic push for a majority thanks to this district's narrow margins.[171]
Incumbent Republican Robert Wittke moved into the neighboring 63rd district, leaving the district open. The only candidate to file was Angelina Cruz, who is running unopposed.
Incumbent Republican Robin Vos was moved into the neighboring 33rd district due to redistricting, leaving the district open. Instead, Republican Robert Wittke moved from the neighboring 62nd district to the 63rd and is running for re-election unopposed.
The incumbent, Democratic minority leader Greta Neubauer, is running for re-election. In the general election, she faces a Republican opponent, Mount Pleasant village president David DeGroot.
Incumbent Democrat Katrina Shankland has declined to seek re-election, leaving this district open. The only Democrat to file, Vinnie Miresse, defeated Republican Robert Pahmeier in the general election.
Incumbent Republican Chanz Green is running for re-election. He faced and defeated Scott Harbridge, a veteran from Radisson in the primary election. Prior to redistricting, the town of Summit, Wisconsin was placed within the 73rd assembly district, but it was moved into the 74th assembly district. On the day of the primary, county officials learned that ballots contained candidates for the 73rd, and not the 74th, district.[172] Under current Wisconsin law, there is no procedure to handle votes cast for a different district's candidates, and it is up to the discretion of local officials to decide a course of action. Harbridge has called for a new primary election in the 74th district as a result of the error.[173] Regardless, Green is set to advance to the general election, where he will face Democrat Jeanne Bruce.
Incumbent Democrat Lisa Subeck was moved into the neighboring 79th district due to redistricting. Shelia Stubbs is running for re-election unopposed after being moved from the 77th district into the 78th due to redistricting. In the primary she defeated Nasra Wehelie by 31 points.
Incumbent Democrat Alex Joers was moved into the neighboring 80th district due to redistricting. Lisa Subeck is running for re-election unopposed after being moved from the 78th district to the 79th due to redistricting.
Incumbent Democrat Dave Considine declined to seek re-election. Alex Joers was the only candidate to file after moving from the 79th district to the 80th due to redistricting and the 80th to the 81st to avoid a primary challenge with Democrat Mike Bare.
Incumbent Republican Patrick Snyder was moved into the neighboring 87th district due to redistricting, but relocated in order to maintain residence in the 85th district and run for re-election. There was no primary election for either party in this district. In the general election, Snyder is opposed by Democrat Yee Leng Xiong, a member of the Marathon county board and executive director of the Hmong American Center in Wausau.[174]
Incumbent Democrat Steve Doyle is running for re-election. In the general election Doyle will face Republican Ryan Huebsch, an executive director of the Wisconsin Conservative Energy Forum, in a rematch of 2022.
During his tenure, Doyle has been described as the most bipartisan member of the Assembly, having authored the most bipartisan pieces of legislation of any member of his caucus.[175] Huebsch previously ran for this district in 2022, and his father, Michael Huebsch, previously represented this district before resigning to join the cabinet of Scott Walker in 2011.[176] Controversy emerged in the campaign when offensive social media posts Huebsch made as a teenager emerged, after which he apologized and took down the posts.[177] This district's race has notably become the most expensive state assembly election in Wisconsin in 2024.[178] Under the new maps, the district has been broadly unchanged, remaining one of the most politically competitive districts in the state, being rated as a tossup with a slight Democratic lean.[179][51]
Incumbent Republican Cindi Duchow was moved into the neighboring 97th district due to redistricting. Incumbent Republican Barbara Dittrich is running for re-election unopposed after being moved into the district from the 38th due to redistricting. In the primary she defeated Hartland Village President Jeffrey Pfannerstill.
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